Rick didn't hesitate. He launched himself through the thick, grey smoke.
The final Corporate Oversight assassin had his suppressed submachine gun aimed squarely at Rachel. She was pressed flat against the wall, her hands covering her head, screaming in sheer terror. The assassin's finger pulled the trigger.
Rick tackled him right around the waist. The gun went off, the bullets chewing up the pristine white plaster just inches from Rachel's face.
The two men crashed onto the hard tile floor. The assassin was heavily armoured, but Rick had raw, brute strength on his side. The assassin tried to bring the barrel of his weapon down towards Rick's chest. Rick batted the gun away with his left hand, pinning the man's wrist to the floor.
With his right hand, Rick delivered a brutal, bone-crushing punch straight to the assassin's face. The man's dark balaclava tore, and blood sprayed from his broken nose. The assassin grunted, trying to knee Rick in the groin, but Rick was faster.
